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Specialist officers tackle Ford open prison riot Ford open prison riot tackled by specialist officers
(about 2 hours later)
Specialist prison guards in body armour have been tackling rioting inmates at an open jail in West Sussex. Specialist prison guards in body armour have quelled a riot by around 40 inmates at an open jail in West Sussex.
Firefighters were also sent to HMP Ford after 40 prisoners smashed windows and started blazes at around midnight. A number of buildings were burned to the ground at Ford Prison, near Arundel, during the violence which broke out early on New Year's Day.
At least two fire engines and an extra 140 prison staff were sent to the site near Arundel, but the fires were reported to be out by 1500 GMT. Reports say all the rioters have now been detained and no-one has been injured; an inquiry has been launched.
The Prison Officers' Association said the violence began after staff tried to breathalyse some of the 200 prisoners. The Prison Officers' Association said the incident started after staff tried to breathalyse some prisoners.
No injuriesNo injuries
Mark Freeman from POA said there had only been two prison officers and four support staff on duty when the riot broke out. Mark Freeman from POA said there had only been two prison officers and four support staff on duty when the riot began.
He said he understood the rioters were in B wing and those who had not been involved, had been kept elsewhere on the site. He said those responsible for the trouble had worn balaclavas to conceal their identities.
He said those carrying out the riots had worn balaclavas so their identities would remain hidden. Throughout the day, authorities struggled to regain control, and two fire engines and scores of prison officers in riot gear were sent to the site.
BBC correspondent Robert Hall said the fire was initially confined to an accommodation block but at around midday on Saturday, further fires broke out elsewhere. The situation worsened at lunchtime when three further accommodation blocks were burned to the ground.
He said the damage was severe and prisoners had begun to be moved out of the compound to elsewhere. The arson attacks claimed a total of six accommodation blocks, a gymnasium, a mail room, a snooker room and a pool room including 10 newly-installed pool tables.
The blocks destroyed included a mail room, a gym, a snooker room and a pool room with 10 newly-installed pool tables. Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said 150 prisoners were now being moved to other, closed prisons, either because they were involved in the disturbances or because of damage to their accommodation.
Prison service staff were forced to retreat when the riots first broke out but there have been no reports of any injuries to staff or inmates as yet. He confirmed there would be a formal inquiry, to be led by the regional custody manager for Wales, and said the issue of prisoners having access to alcohol would be looked at.
Officers have formed a cordon around the area where the trouble took place, while smoke can still be seen. "This disturbance appeared to have started when the staff were doing absolutely what they should have done, which was, after seeing people drink alcohol, wishing to breathalyse them and that would have then had consequences for the prisoners concerned, such as taking them away from an open prison and it seems that that is what then set off this extremely unfortunate chain of events."
The Prison Service spokesperson said the sending of additional staff was "not an indication that the situation is escalating but a pre-planned intervention in line with standard practice". Mr Blunt warned those who were not directly involved but witnessed the events that they would be required to provide "full and frank" accounts of what they saw if they wanted to remain in an open prison.
He added: "The causes of the disturbance are not yet known and will be subject to an investigation." "This is an extremely unusual event in an open prison because prisoners have a great deal to lose and they are, certainly as far as any influence I can bring to bear, going to lose it," the minister told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
Mr Freeman told the BBC: "I understand that a headcount has now been carried out on one of the wings, which has proved to be correct.
"They are still yet to enter the area where the main part of the riot occurred. My understanding is that will happen later in the day as they need to account for the prisoners in that section."
Staff shortagesStaff shortages
Mr Freeman added: "We believe alcohol has played a large part in this. Mr Freeman told the BBC: "We believe alcohol has played a large part in this.
"Over the past few nights prisoners have been reluctant to be breathalysed by staff. The staff have been chasing them round the blocks trying to breathalyse them, which is sort of reminiscent of the end scene from Benny Hill to me."Over the past few nights prisoners have been reluctant to be breathalysed by staff. The staff have been chasing them round the blocks trying to breathalyse them, which is sort of reminiscent of the end scene from Benny Hill to me.
"And the fact is that this is what kicked it off last night was breathalysing the inmates. They didn't want to be breathalysed and the riot kicked off in the early hours of this morning."And the fact is that this is what kicked it off last night was breathalysing the inmates. They didn't want to be breathalysed and the riot kicked off in the early hours of this morning.
"It has been a concern for a long, long time - the amount of alcohol that prisoners are able to get here at Ford. I understand that over 40 bottles of alcohol have been found empty - a great problem.""It has been a concern for a long, long time - the amount of alcohol that prisoners are able to get here at Ford. I understand that over 40 bottles of alcohol have been found empty - a great problem."
He added that staff shortages and prisoners who had been wrongly categorised added to local difficulties.He added that staff shortages and prisoners who had been wrongly categorised added to local difficulties.
"It's very difficult when you have a very small staff, which they did last night."It's very difficult when you have a very small staff, which they did last night.
"In our view they do not have enough staff. The general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities.""In our view they do not have enough staff. The general policy is that prisons in an open state have less staff but we feel they should have more because they have more access to illegal activities."
HMP Ford accepts category D offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences.HMP Ford accepts category D offenders who have under two years left to serve on their sentences.
The Prison Service website says the institution - which can hold up to 557 inmates - does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or "restraining" offences.The Prison Service website says the institution - which can hold up to 557 inmates - does not house criminals who have been convicted of arson, some sexual offences, or "restraining" offences.
The facility is split into two sites divided by a main road. One of the sides is mainly residential, while the other generally consists of work spaces.The facility is split into two sites divided by a main road. One of the sides is mainly residential, while the other generally consists of work spaces.
Concerns had been raised in the past about the way the prison was operated.Concerns had been raised in the past about the way the prison was operated.
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "No-one wins from a prison disturbance.Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "No-one wins from a prison disturbance.
"It endangers prisoners and staff, worries families and ends in a high cost the Prison Service can ill afford."It endangers prisoners and staff, worries families and ends in a high cost the Prison Service can ill afford.
"Once control is fully re-established, a review is called for to determine how and why this happened. Events of this kind are very rare in open prisons, which serve an important purpose to rehabilitate people who have served ever lengthening sentences.""Once control is fully re-established, a review is called for to determine how and why this happened. Events of this kind are very rare in open prisons, which serve an important purpose to rehabilitate people who have served ever lengthening sentences."
In 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board said people had been able to smuggle in drugs, alcohol and mobile phones.In 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board said people had been able to smuggle in drugs, alcohol and mobile phones.
It called for upgraded CCTV for the site to be installed as a priority.It called for upgraded CCTV for the site to be installed as a priority.